Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim on Administration of Justice (Protection) (Amendment) Bill

It is essential to protect Singapore’s justice system from exploitation by vexatious litigants whose actions deplete valuable judicial resources and erode public confidence in the legal system, said MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 13), he stressed the need to ensure that the Administration of Justice (Protection) (Amendment) Bill does not deter legitimate advocacy or prevent lawyers from fearlessly defending their clients within the bounds of the law. He also stressed the need to raise public awareness to prevent frivolous or repeated claims. He pointed out that frivolous litigants sometimes seek public donations and potentially dupe well-meaning supporters. It may be beneficial for the judiciary to establish a publicly accessible database to verify claimants. He also suggested that the judiciary provides transparent data on the resources expended on frivolous cases so that the public can understand the importance of safeguarding judicial resources.